Box-cover fastening.



P. H. MGELLBNBROGK.

BOX COVER FASTBNING. v APPLIGATION FILED un. 24, 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

gggzcovan i ,spessa-,tion of Latas retn@ Parete-ea Dee, @19509.

Animation/ined April 24,1909:-v srial nofieaoo. n

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. MOELLEN- BROCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dissen, in the county of Franklin and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Box-Cover Fastening, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved fastening for the cover of egg cases or other receptacles, which securely fastens the cover without nailing.

Another object is to provide a fastening which is simple in structure, and which can be readily applied to any ordinary egg case, and also one which can be easily disengaged to release the cover.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the drawing hereto annexed, in which drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fastener removed.

In the drawings, 5 denotes an egg case or other receptacle, and 6 is the cover or lid thereof. At the ends of the cover are cleats 7 which, when the cover is in place, t on the outside of the end walls of the case. To prevent the cover from being lifted off the case, a fastening is provided at each end thereof. This fastening is the subject of the present invention, and the following is a detailed description thereof.

At 8 is indicated a metallic plate having projecting from its lower edge a pair of spaced hooks 9, said hooks having their bills extending in a horizontal plane toward each other. The hooks also project below the lower edge of the cleat 7, and their shanks are slightly off-set from the plate, and thus spaced from the end wall of the case, in order that the other member of the fastening may enter therebetween.

The plate 8 is provided with apertures 10 to receive screws or other fastening means whereby it is secured to the cleat 7 on the inner face thereof. From the face of the plate projects a rib or iin 11 which enters a slot 12 made in the end wall of the case, and which serves to prevent lateral displacement of the cover. In order to reduce the weight of the plate 8, the same is formed with openings 13. order that said cleat may fit snugly on the end wall. The other member ofthe fastening comprises a pair of spring arms 14 terminating in forward bends to form fingers 15 engageable respectively with the hooks 9. The arms may be formed of spring wire, which is suitably bent intermediate its ends to form said arms, and secured at the bend to the end wall of the case on the outside thereof, by a strap 16 nailed or otherwise secured to said end wall, and passing over the bend. Any other suitable fastening means for the arms may be provided. Adjacent to the free end of the arms, a strip 17 is secured to the end wall same length as cleats 7 in which strip are made openings through whichthe arms pass. This strip assists to secure the arms, and prevents them from springing outwardly from the end wall.

The fingers 15 extend into the path ofthe hooks 9, so that when the cover is placed on the case, and pressed downwardly thereon, they are forced toward each other, and thence snap over the hooks, and spread out above the same. When the fingers are thus engaged by the hooks, the cover is securely held in place on the case. The bills of the hooks are suitably curved so that the fingers are automatically engaged as stated. To release the cover, the fingers 15 are grasped and pressed toward each other' until they clear the hooks, after which the cover is free, and may then be lifted off the case. The length of the fingers is such that they may be conveniently grasped as stated. The nor- The plate is let into the cleat in mal tendency of the arms 14 is to spread,

by reason of which the fingers 15 are securely held within the hooks, and accidental disengagement is elfectually prevented.l

' The fastener herein described is simple in structure, and can be readily applied to any ordinary egg case or other receptacle, and can be readily engaged and disengaged, and it effectually serves to hold the cover in place. It will, of course, be understood that the hereindescribed fastening is applied to each end of the case.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a receptacle, and its cover, said receptacle having a slot in one of its walls, of a fastening for the cover comprising a plate secured thereto, a iin projecting from the plate into the aforesaid slot, a pair of oppositely presented hooks projecting Vfrom one of the ed es ofthe;vv

plate, and spring ngers secure lto te? ceptacle, and engagea-ble with thhfl ,2. The combination With a'recept'ac'le, and

t its cover, of a fastening for' the' ooi/,eromh- 10 the receptacle and extending behind the hooks, andforward bendsat the ends of the arms engageable with thehooks.

In .testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have'hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK H. MOELLENBROCK.

Witnesses J. B. DURHAM, AUG. H. HELLING. 

